The Relationship between Reactive Balance Control and Back and Hamstring Strength in Physiotherapists with Non-Specific Back Pain: Protocol for a Cross-Sectional Study

Erika Zemková, Eva Ďurinová, Andrej Džubera, Henrieta Horníková, Juraj Chochol, Jana Koišová, Michaela Šimonová and Ludmila Zapletalová
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Erika Zemková: Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Comenius University in Bratislava, 814 69 Bratislava, Slovakia
Eva Ďurinová: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, 917 01 Trnava, Slovakia
Andrej Džubera: Department of Neurosurgery, Slovak Medical University and University Hospital—St. Michael’s Hospital, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia
Henrieta Horníková: Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Comenius University in Bratislava, 814 69 Bratislava, Slovakia
Juraj Chochol: Department of Neurosurgery, Slovak Medical University and University Hospital—St. Michael’s Hospital, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia
Jana Koišová: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, 917 01 Trnava, Slovakia
Michaela Šimonová: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, 917 01 Trnava, Slovakia
Ludmila Zapletalová: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, 917 01 Trnava, Slovakia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-10

Abstract: Back pain is one of the most costly disorders among the worldwide working population. Within that population, healthcare workers are at a high risk of back pain. Though they often demonstrate awkward postures and impaired balance in comparison with healthy workers, there is no clear relationship between compensatory postural responses to unpredictable stimuli and the strength of related muscle groups, in particular in individuals with mild to moderate back pain. This paper presents a study protocol that aims to evaluate the relationship between peak anterior to peak posterior displacements of the center of pressure (CoP) and corresponding time from peak anterior to peak posterior displacements of the CoP after sudden external perturbations and peak force during a maximum voluntary isometric contraction of the back and hamstring muscles in physiotherapists with non-specific back pain in its early stages. Participants will complete the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire. Those that rate their back pain on the 0–10 Low Back Pain Scale in the ranges 1–3 (mild pain) and 4–6 (moderate pain) will be considered. They will undergo a perturbation-based balance test and a test of the maximal isometric strength of back muscles and hip extensors. We assume that by adding tests of reactive balance and strength of related muscle groups in the functional testing of physiotherapists, we would be able to identify back problems earlier and more efficiently and therefore address them well before chronic back disorders occur.

Keywords: back problems; Low Back Pain Scale; maximum voluntary isometric contraction; postural stability; unexpected external postural perturbations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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